Green home insulation made from blue jeans

When it comes to home insulation or attic insulation there are a few choices out there including foam insulation (both spray on and foam boards). Wall insulation sometimes requires more rigid structures. There is always a sinking feeling, however, when using a material that we all know is not environmentally friendly and may even contain volatile organic compounds (VOC's). Styrofoam has historically released toxins into the atmosphere during production and is known to degrade very, very slowly and consume a lot of space in landfills. There are also drawbacks to using fiberglass, it's harmful to breathe in and extremely irritating to handle which makes installation and updating a real challenge. The tiny glass particles in fiberglass can be very irritating to the skin and since it's made from glass it doesn't biodegrade especially well. In five or ten years we may look back on fiberglass and foam the same way we do asbestos which has been found to cause lung cancer.

A great new alternative recently hit the market that addresses the environmental issues as well as handling challenges of traditional home insulation. We're talking about denim insulation made from blue jeans cotton. This is a winning product all around, it's made from organic materials potentially grown right in the country you're already living in (so it doesn't require as much wasteful shipping) and in many cases the material itself is made from leftovers as denim clothing products are created. Furthermore, the natural properties of denim make it a wonderful insulator and installers love it because they don't get glass in their lungs and can interact with the product more efficiently, thus providing a better end service to you. Cotton fiber insulation is being produced by a few large companies including UltraTouch and is available all over the web or through your local builder, definitely ask for it the next time you need insulation.